UNDERRATED: Peter Capaldi on "The Hour"

UNDERRATED: Peter Capaldi on "The Hour"

Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times

Already one of the most addicting, sumptuously shot dramas on TV, this BBC series grew only stronger with this Scottish actor on board for its second season, which came out on DVD last month. A volcanic poet of profanity in "In the Loop," Capaldi simmers with a grim sternness as the show's news director and shines in deft, nuanced exchanges with an acidly sharp reporter played by Anna Chancellor.

Already one of the most addicting, sumptuously shot dramas on TV, this BBC series grew only stronger with this Scottish actor on board for its second season, which came out on DVD last month. A volcanic poet of profanity in "In the Loop," Capaldi simmers with a grim sternness as the show's news director and shines in deft, nuanced exchanges with an acidly sharp reporter played by Anna Chancellor. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Already one of the most addicting, sumptuously shot dramas on TV, this BBC series grew only stronger with this Scottish actor on board for its second season, which came out on DVD last month. A volcanic poet of profanity in "In the Loop," Capaldi simmers with a grim sternness as the show's news director and shines in deft, nuanced exchanges with an acidly sharp reporter played by Anna Chancellor.